facebook-pixel

Battery thieves kept going and going ... until Utah police and Comcast caught them

(Photo courtesy West Valley City police) This photo supplied by the West Valley City Police Department on April 4, 2019, shows the kids of batteries stolen from Comcast service locations across the Wasatch Front.

(Photo courtesy West Valley City police) This photo supplied by the West Valley City Police Department on April 4, 2019, shows the kids of batteries stolen from Comcast service locations across the Wasatch Front.

Police in West Valley City say they have broken a theft ring that was stealing backup batteries providing reserve electricity for cable, broadband and 911 phone service.

Six felonies charges have been filed against one person, and a news release from West Valley City said prosecutors are considering charges for 10 more. The group is accused of stealing alpha-cell batteries, valued at $180 each, from Comcast.

The batteries were stored at locations in West Valley City and elsewhere on the Wasatch Front to provide emergency power for Comcast services. The news release says the thieves would sell the batteries for recycling scrap and collect $15 or $20 for each battery.

A break came in July when detectives were able to find the driver of a truck suspected in the thefts. The driver provided police with information about the thefts, the news release said.

The following month, Comcast placed some “bait” batteries in locations to trick the thieves into taking what were actually tracking devices. That allowed police to track the thieves and figure out where the real batteries had been taken.


Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.